Commercial tea bags release billions of tiny particles that enter your body, study finds

Researchers at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) have uncovered how plastic tea bags release massive amounts of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPLs) during brewing, highlighting a potential health risk.

Their study, published in Chemosphere, not only demonstrates the extent of contamination but also shows, for the first time, that these tiny plastic particles can be absorbed by human intestinal cells, potentially spreading throughout the body via the bloodstream.

Plastic pollution, especially from food packaging, is a growing environmental and health concern. Humans are exposed to MNPLs primarily through inhalation and ingestion.

This new research underscores the significant contribution of polymer-based tea bags to this problem, identifying them as a substantial source of micro- and nanoplastic release.

Plastic Tea Bags and Particle Release

The team analyzed tea bags made from nylon-6, polypropylene, and cellulose. When used to prepare tea, these materials were found to release billions of plastic particles into the liquid:

Polypropylene: Released approximately 1.2 billion particles per milliliter, averaging 136.7 nanometers in size.
Cellulose: Released about 135 million particles per milliliter, with an average size of 244 nanometers.
Nylon-6: Released 8.18 million particles per milliliter, averaging 138.4 nanometers.

These tiny particles, some as small as nanometers, are invisible to the naked eye but represent a concerning form of contamination.

The researchers used advanced technologies, including scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), to characterize these particles in detail.

How Plastic Particles Interact with Human Cells

In a groundbreaking step, the team stained the MNPLs and exposed them to human intestinal cells to observe their behavior.

The study revealed that mucus-producing intestinal cells were particularly prone to absorbing the particles, with some particles even entering the nucleus of the cells where genetic material is stored.

This discovery is alarming, as it suggests that the intestinal mucus layer, designed to protect the gut, might facilitate the uptake of these pollutants.

Once absorbed, the particles could potentially travel through the bloodstream, raising concerns about their effects on human health with chronic exposure.

Implications for Health and Safety

Although the exact health effects of MNPLs on humans remain unclear, the ability of these particles to enter human cells and possibly interfere with genetic material calls for urgent investigation.

Long-term exposure to MNPLs, particularly from food-related sources, could have far-reaching consequences.

The researchers emphasize the need for standardized methods to assess MNPL contamination in food contact materials. They call for regulatory policies to limit plastic use in food packaging and minimize contamination to ensure food safety and protect public health.

A Call for Action

With the rising use of plastics in food-related products, addressing MNPL contamination has become critical. “It is vital to develop effective strategies to mitigate plastic pollution and protect human health,” said UAB researcher Alba Garcia.

The team hopes that their findings will prompt further research and stronger regulations to tackle the issue.

This study highlights a hidden source of plastic contamination in everyday life, urging consumers and policymakers to rethink the use of plastic in food products.

It also opens the door for future studies to explore the long-term effects of these particles on human health and the environment.

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The research findings can be found in Chemosphere.